Can youo help me out?

Well, Historic Black Colleges, thats something i never thought of attending? I dont really think I know exactly what it could possibly mean to be black... yeah i know that sound ironicly funny but its true. I've lived my whole life under the impression that to be "black" was to be a thug, locked up, or smoking somthing to get high. I refuse to believe that, that assumption is true. As students at these Historic Black Colleges what have you seen that would be helpful to someone who would one day like to attend? what are somethings i should expect in coming to one of these colleges. Are anythings going to be contradictary to things outsiide of the coleges? there are many question and too few answers!! SO help me out a lil bit, please?